Take a brow: strong eyes make all the difference
Can’t be bothered with makeup? I get that. Seems pointless when your audience is mainly colleagues on Zoom with a dodgy internet connection (no one notices immaculate contouring on frozen screens.) Still, wearing makeup, especially with minimal effort, is mood-boosting. Apply a smidgen of foundation for warmth, neutral eyeshadow, an understated lip and, crucially, strong brows – just dip your spoolie in brow pomade and brush on. A face with great brows is akin to a dress hung up (as opposed to scrunched on the floor). It makes all the difference. That’s the benefit of being bothered.
1. Estée Lauder Sumptuous Nudes Eyeshadow Palette £40, esteelauder.co.uk
2. Benefit Hello Happy Airstick Foundation £28.50, benefitcosmetics.com
3. Hourglass Veil Eye Primer £25, spacenk.com
4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade £19, cultbeauty.co.uk
5. Bare Minerals Hydra Smoothing Lipstick in Grace £24, lookfantastic.com
I can’t do without… the candle that gives you a ‘clean house’ feeling
Lockdown has created a new movement of people obsessed with ‘clean’. Clean foods, clean beauty products, clean homes… We’re all turning into Mrs Hinch and Marie Kondo. Well I should say we were. Now the novelty has begun to wear off, we’d rather take pleasure in less strenuous things, such as reading, eating and looking out of the window. Hence I love this Clean House candle from Beauty Pie, the low-priced luxury beauty brand. It’s a brilliant way to keep up the illusion. The scent, created in Grasse, the home of great perfumery, is described as ‘lavender bushels, freesia and magnolia flowers bundled in fresh white cotton sheets then spritzed with a nudge of musk’. In other words it smells like fresh laundry – the ultimate scent of clean. And who doesn’t like that? (Please don’t tell me that’s you.) I also fell for this candle because it burns for 50 hours – and the quality is lovely. Most people associate candles with particular seasons or occasions, but for me they are like sunscreen – relevant all year round. Except candles are a luxury. And seeing as I light a few at a time (my mother-in-law once said my home resembled a Catholic church), I am literally burning money. Thankfully, at this price, I can light candles guilt-free. But more than that, the scent leaves me with a ‘clean house’– no elbow grease required.
Beauty Pie Clean House Luxury Scented Candle, £18.16, beautypie.com
On my radar… Effective treats for skin, hair and lashes
Sunday best If you’ve never tried Sunday Riley’s highly effective skincare line, this limited-edition set, featuring three bestselling serums and an eye cream, is a great starting point. Sunday Riley Superstars Skincare set, £115, exclusively at johnlewis.com
The eyes have it False eyelash addicts should try this two-ended mascara. It delivers so well on curl, volume and length, that giving your falsies a day off will be a breeze. Huda Beauty Legit Lashes, £24, shophudabeauty.com
Loose ends This luxurious, sulfate-free strengthening and protective hair mask, formulated with a cocktail of antioxidant vitamins, is essential for coloured, bleached or highlighted hair. Christophe Robin Color Shield Mask, £33, christopherobin.co.uk
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